Boa dia minha família e meus amigos!
First things first, time flies. I realized that every week of my mission is 1% closer to being home. Which makes me want to work so hard! Time is very short! The more I learn here and the more I feel the spirit and live more and more fully to the commandments, oh how sweet life is. It has not been easy being here. Our days are long, without a single minute to spare really, and after 16 hours you are ready for bed. It is daunting realizing that that is what every day will be like, right up to the end. But my! How much you can accomplish in one day! I wish I had known how to work this hard before and not go crazy. A 4.0 wouldn't have been a problem, and I'd know so much more than I do. Oh well, live and learn! I am certainly glad to be seeing just how much we can each do if we put our minds to our work. And to be filling our time with meaningful things! Do what matters most!
Well, stories for the week? Too many to share! Among them though was another lesson in Portugués. My companion and I were teaching an investigator who didn't know much about the church but was curious to know more. By the end of the lesson he knew how to feel the spirit, how to pray, and he was committed to coming to church with us, and reading and praying about the book of Mormon! It was really cool. Sometimes I try to teach by virtue of what I know. That never works out well. Especially because I don't know Portugués terribly well. But then, when I am humble enough and have prayed and prepared, the Spirit comes and despite my and my companion's inability to speak Portugués, we somehow manage to teach a lesson and leave an impression on the investigator. It is quite amazing!
So, news of the week: The age for missionaries was reduced!!!! You should have been here at the CTM. It was crazy. My heart about exploded. Only 18 now for Elders! And sisters can come at 19!! How wonderful! My first thought was, "I won't be alone anymore! My friends can join me in the work!" I'm not alone of course, but it is very easy to feel that way. Satan uses that as a tool too. We aren't alone, even when we are by ourselves. Remember that! I know our Heavenly Father loves us. And He is intricately involved in each of our lives, guiding them exactly as we need, according to our faith and what we give to Him to guide. Friends, tell me if your mission plans have changed! My address is on Facebook.
Every week here we drive for about an hour to go to the São Paulo temple. And without fail, every week Heavenly Father gives me something new I need desperately The first week He bound up my heart. My first two weeks were hard. It is hard to give up everything you know. So that first week when I was in the celestial room, I talked to Him and He gave me love and encouragement, just what I needed. And I felt like He took my heart and healed it too. I didn't hurt as much after that. The next week He told me what I needed to do better, and also gave me things to teach to the people I lead now. Words I could teach tehm to help them be strong too. And this week, this morning, He lifted weight from me I didn't even realize I was carrying. Weight of longing for things I cannot have. Nothing bad, just desires to be with family, to be with my dear friends. I am so glad. I miss you all, but I know why I'm here, and it's hard, but so so good! I finally feel like a Son of the Almighty God. Really and truly. We are all His children. What a nice thing to know!
General conference was amazing. If you didn't watch, watch it! And in case you haven't yet, y'all should write me :) Just tell me what's up in your lives! I want to know, you are my friends and family after all :)
Well, time's up. I love you all so much! I appreciate your prayers so much! Your prayers and your examples strengthen me! I promise to write home some sweet stories soon.
All the best,
Elder Viglione.
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